Attending the Wheaties ceremony were (from left): driver Clint Bowyer, Richard Childress and Taylor and Kerry Earnhardt. (Photo: General Mills)May 24, 2010:Dale Earnhardt earned countless honors during his career as a race car driver, the cumulative effect being posthumous induction on May 23 into the Nascar Hall of Fame.

To commemorative the event as well as his life and times, Wheaties has unveiled a special-edition box honoring Earnhardt, who had a record-tying seven championships and 76 wins before his death following a crash in the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

Among other drivers who have appeared on Wheaties are Kyle Busch, A.J. Foyt, Ned Jarrett, Benny Parsons and Cale Yarborough.

Earnhardt is part of an inaugural Hall of Fame class that also features Bill France Sr., Bill France Jr., Richard Petty and Junior Johnson.

The box gives Earnhardt another achievement as the first stock car driver to be featured twice by Wheaties. He also appeared on a series of boxes in 1997 when he raced a Wheaties paint scheme in the All-Star event that year. The new commemorative box from the General Mills brand is scheduled to hit store shelves this summer.

Among those who attended a special ceremony on May 21 at the Charlotte Motor Speedway were Taylor Earnhardt (Earnhardt’s youngest daughter) and Kerry Earnhardt (Earnhardt’s oldest son); Richard Childress, founder and owner of Richard Childress Racing; Jeff Steiner, executive vice president and general manager, Dale Earnhardt Inc.; and current General Mills driver Clint Bowyer

“Dale Earnhardt signifies everything that makes a champion,” David Clark, vice president for Wheaties, said in a statement. “His record speaks for itself, but it was also his hard work and determination that made him an inspiration to so many. We’re honored to feature him again and to help celebrate his latest acknowledgements.”

Among other events, fans can help celebrate Earnhardt’s legacy beginning May 27 at the Food Lion Speed Street 600 Race Festival in downtown Charlotte, N.C., where the original Wheaties car driven by Earnhardt in the 1997 race will be showcased at a Wheaties display.

“It’s great to see Wheaties pay tribute again to Dale Earnhardt by honoring him with a second commemorative box, especially since it takes place at the same time as his induction,” Richard Childress said during the Wheaties ceremonies. “Dale was, and always will be, a champions’ champion who represents the best that motorsports offers to its millions of fans worldwide.”

According to Taylor Earnhardt, “It’s really an honor for my family and me to see this Wheaties box. My dad was a true champion and this box helps celebrate his legacy.”